I just got the big tree and I have already vacuumed it once. It was already full of hair!!! I made the decision then that I will give it a once over at least once every few weeks. I use a small shop vac on the hardwood floors and furniture. It is the only thing I can find that can handle all of the hair that I have. It's great because I don't have to worry about bags or clogging. I just go along and suck up all the hairballs.